Qadhafi loyalists seize Libyan town

In this Sept. 16, 2011 photo former rebel fighters step over a carpet bearing a depiction of Muammar Qadhafi, on a road near Bani Walid. Qadhafi loyalists have seized control of Bani Walid, officials said on Tuesday.

An official and a commander say Muammar Qadhafi loyalists have seized control of a Libyan town and raised the ousted regime’s green flag.

The retaking of Bani Walid comes as Libya’s new leaders have struggled to stamp out lingering resistance from pro-Qadhafi forces and unify the country three months after Qadhafi was captured and killed.

Mubarak al-Fatamni, the head of Bani Walid local council, said on Tuesday that hundreds of well-equipped and highly trained remnants of Qadhafi’s forces seized the western city late Monday.

Rebel commander Ali al-Fatamni, who is following the situation in Benghazi, says he has lost contact with revolutionary fighters in the town.